Means removing cards from address plates



Aug. 11, 1953 W. T. GOLLWITZER MEANS REMOVING CARDS FROM ADDRESS PLATES Filed May 14, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet l Ivi/Arroz Arran/vf ys Aug. 1l, 1953 w. r. GoLLwlTzER MEANS REMOVING CARDS FROM ADDRESS PLATES 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1951 Aug. 11, 1953 w. T. GoLLwlTzER 2,648,276

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MEANS REMOVING CARDS FROM ADDRESS PLATES Filed May 14, 1951 1o sheets-sheet 1o Arron/v5 Y6 Patented ug. 11, 1953 MEANS REMOVING CARDS FROM ADDRESS PLATES Walter T. Gollwitzer, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wil mington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 14, 1951, Serial No. 226,201

11 Claims.

This invention relates to business machines and particularly to such machines for removing cards such as index or data field cards from individual printing and control devices.

In the production of business documents, and in addressing envelopes or making mailing strips, labels and the like, it is common practice to use individual printing devices that are fed one by one through a printing machine so that impressions may be printed from the printing means of such printing devices. Such printing devices as commonly used embody a carrier or frame which has embossed printing means fixed thereon, and in addition to the foregoing, the frame is usually provided with one or more supplemental areas in which corresponding cards may be removably fixed for different purposes. One such card usually carried on such a printing device frame is the index card upon which various identifying or other data may be printed, and many of these printing devices have one or more additional areas or elds that are utilized for representing numerical or other data or information. These additional fields are in most instances covered by control cards so that perforations may be formed through the frame and through the card for automatic control of the operations of the printing machine or related machines. Such printing machinessuch for example as that shown in the co-pending application of Walter T. Gollwitzer and Robert H. Lease, Serial No. 96,288, filed May 31, 1949, are provided with sensing and selecting means that are responsive to the perforations in the control cards to govern the operation of the printing machine. As disclosed in the aforesaid Gollwitzer and Lease application, the data represented on the control cards is related to certain time periods and when these time periods have expired, or when the data relating to such time periods has become out of date, it is necessary to remove the particular cards from the printing device frame so` that a new sequence of information recording operations may be applied to the printing devices. Moreover, it often happens that the address of a particular person has such as the address that is printed on the index card of control device may become out of date, and this requires removal of the index card so that it may be replaced with a newly printed and corrected index card.

The aforesaid card removal operations become quite burdensome when a particular user of such printing devices has an extremely large number of such printing `devices which must be subjected to card removal operations, and to enable such card removal operations to be performed rapidly and easily and by mechanical means is the primary object of the present invention. Other and related objects of the present invention are to afford card removing means whereby cards in any selected position on the printing devices may be removed, and to enable the selection of the particular card that is to be removed to be readily and easily performed.

`Among a large group of printingde'vices with respect tofvvhich card removing operations must be performed, it often happens that there are certain printing devices that relate to persons to whom particular preference must be accorded, and it is customary in such instances to afford a special mark such as a colored card on such printing devices. These special printing devices can, of course, be removed from a group of printing devices before card removing'operations are performed on the group, but as a practical matter it is desirable to leave the printing devices in their original sequence. It is, therefore, another and important object of the present invention toi provide a card removing machine in which rthe card removing operation may be skipped with respect to any particular printing device, and to enable this to be done readily and easily and under control of the operator.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card removing machine embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine of Fig. 1 adjacent to the left-hand end thereof and looking in a righthand direction;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the top cover plates being removed to show the path of movement of the printing devices through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional View taken through a portion of the machine so as to show details of actuation and control of the card removing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1 1 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism at the card removing station of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken at the right-hand end of the machine and looking toward the left and showing the details of the manually controlled skipping mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a fragmental View showing the manner' in which the mechanism of Fig. 9 is operated in timed relationship to the other elements of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a plan sectional View taken substantially' along the line ll--ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line I2-I2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a schematic and partially perspective view illustrating the manner in which the manually controlled skipping mechanism is effective to suppress the operation of the card removing means;

Fig. 14 is a schematic wiring diagram;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional View taken through the card removing station of the machine;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged View showing the connections for supplying the pressure air blast at the card removing station;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view showing the adjustable nozzle elements of the pressure air blast means at the card removing station;

Fig. 18 is a face view of a printing and control device irom the frame of which the present machine is adapted to selectively remove the index or control cards;

Figs. 18A and 18B are sectional views taken substantially along the lines IBA-IBA and IBB- 18B of Fig. 18; and

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional View taken on the card removing station and illustrating the manner in which the cards are displaced from their mounted positions on the printing devices.

The machine in general For purposes of disclosure the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a card ejecting machine 40 having a desk-like frame F aording a table top T. This card ejecting machine 40 is adapted for ejecting cards from printing and control devices D that are shown in detail in Figs. 18, 18A and 18B, and such printing devices are supplied to the machine 40 by stacking such printing devices in an upstanding supply magazine M that is located near the right-hand rear corner of the table top T. The machine 40 is in many of its structural and functional characteristics substantially like the machines shown in Carl J. Hueber Patents Nos. 2,359,850 and 2,359,851, patented October 10, 1944. The printing devices D are withdrawn one by one from the magazine M and are fed along a relatively complex path beneath the table top T so as to be advanced in a step-by-step manner past a transparent inspection window W formed in the table top T, and then to an enclosed card ejecting 4 station E where the cards are ejected from the printing devices D and are deposited through a discharge chute 4l into a collecting basket B that is located on the frame F adjacent the front of the machine. The printing devices D are then fed forwardly and downwardly from the card ejecting station E and into a collecting drawer K.

The printing devices The printing and control devices D that are to be operated upon by the card removing machine of the present invention may be of many diierent sizes and types, and the size and other charatceristics of the printing device D serve to determine, in a large measure, the size and operational characteristics of certain elements of the card removing machine of this invention. The card removing machine herein shown is adapted particularly for operation on printing and control devices of the general character disclosed, for example, in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,132,412, patented October 1l, 1938, but in other instances, the machine may be made in such a construction and arrangement as to adapt the same for operation on a different type of printing device, such for example as the printing device shown in Gollwitzer Patent No. 1,992,661, patented February 26, 1935.` In all of the various kinds of printing devices of this general class, the printing means of each printing device may be arranged to embody various classes of datato be printed, and such data is disposed in a plurality of lines disposed one above another upon the operative face of the printing device. As shown herein in Fig. 18, it will be evident that the several lines of embossed type are formed upon a printing plate 5l which is carried on one face of a frame 50. The printing device D is, in the present instance, provided with a single printing plate 5l, which is removably held in position on the operative face of the printing device D by retaining means formed on the frame 50. The printing plate 5l is held in position by a curled lower edge 52 and lugs 53, and spring latches 55 serve to releasably engage notches in the end edges of the printing plate 5I to hold the same in position on the frame 50. Spaced from the printing plate 5I, and adjacent the opposite or upper edge of the frame 50, an index and data carrying card 53 is held in place by a curled edge 56 on the frame and cooperating lugs 51 and 58. A printed impression as at 59 may be formedon index card 53 from a part of the printing means ci the printing device so that the printing device may be readily identified.

The printing and control devices D are each arranged to carry data representations that may be sensed so as to control the functioning of the various mechanisms of the printing machines in which they are adapted to be used, such a machine being shown in the co-pending application of Walter T. Gollwitzer and Robert H. Lease. Serial No, 96,288, led May 31, 1949. Such data representations in the present instance are afforded Aby perforations 60 that are formed in any one of several data fields of the control device D 1n accordance with a predetermined positional code. In the printing and control device D as herein shown, the several data elds are aorded by three separate control cards 6 I, 62 and 63, the control card 62 being relatively narrow and elongated in a vertical direction while the control cards 6| and E3 are relatively large and are disposed on opposite sides of the control card 62 in theA area between the printing plate 5| and the index' card 53. The control cards 6I, 62 and 63 are held in place by retaining devices 53 that are formed from the metal of the frame 50.

As herein illustrated, the control card 62 is arranged to afford eight index positions at any one or more of which control perforations 60 may be formed. The index points afforded on the control card 62 are arranged in a vertica-l column, and at each index point, the frame 50 has a frame perforation 66 formed therein.

The control cards 6| and 63 are of generally similar form and each of these cards is arranged to afford three data fields, each of which includes four vertical columns of index positions with eight index positions in each such column. The particular printing device D that is shown herein is intended and particularly adapted for use in connection with mail order sales, and each of the three fields on the card, as 6I, is allocated to a particular season of a particular year, and this may be indicated by the printing identifying headings. one of the three fields afforded on the card 6l are allocated to the indication of the same informational values, and as described in the aforesaid Gollwitzer and Lease application, the upper six index points in the left-hand column of the eld may allocate to the various months in the season to which such field is allocated. Thus the initial letters of the months from January to July may indicate these six positions. The seventh position in this column, that is, the one that is next to the bottom position, may have the letters printed therein to indicate that this index position is allocated to the representation of a particular class of preference to the customer to which the printing device D pertains. In certain instances, a high order of preference for a particular customer may be indicated by making the card 62, or one of the other cards, from material of a different color.

All of the other index positions in each of the large elds are allocated to different money values so that the amount of an order received from the particular customer in a particular season may be recorded in the proper data field by forming a perforation 60 at the index point allocated to approximately the money value of such purchase. Thus the money values allocated to the several index points in the data eld are indicated in the present instance as dollar values, and different index points are allocated to the even dollar values from 1 to 10, and above this amount the dollar values are more widely separated so that relatively high value purchases may be indicated. Thus the letter "C may be used in association with a figure to indicate increments of hundred-dollar values as required by the use to which the devices are to be put.

In recording purchases in the elds of kthe printing and control device D, the month of suchk purchase is recorded by making a control perfo-` ration 60 at the index point allocated to such month in the particular season, and the approximate dollar value of the purchase is indicated by making a control perforation 60 at the appropriate value representing index point. When a subsequent purchase is made in a season, the new value is added to the highest previously recorded value, and the sum is indicated by a control perforation at the proper index point.

Such representations as to the months in which purchases have been made and as to the total dollar value of such purchases in any particular season may thus be utilized in the machine shown The several index points within each in the aforesaid Gollwitzer and Lease application to determine whether or not a mailing slip or tag is Atobe printed from the printing and control device D, and this is accomplished through the use of selector or qualifier mechanism that is -disclosed in such application.

The printing devices D are in many instances classified into a relatively large number of groups or classes and such classification may be attained by suitable identifying means provided at selected identifying positions on the printing device D. In the present instance the printing device D, shown in Fig. 18 has a plurality of identifying tabs 65 disposed at selected positions along its upper edge in the generalmanner disclosed in the aforesaid Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,132,412, andl in this connection it will be noted that a relatively ylarge number of identifying positions are provided along the upper edge of the frame 50 and that the identifying means or tabs 65 in Fig, 18 are disposed in but selected ones of such identifying positions. The printing and control device D as shown in Fig. 3 also has a pair of shift tabs 66 mounted thereon, these tabs in the present instance being located adjacent to the opposite ends of the upper edge of the printing and control device. The shift tabs 66 as herein shown are of the construction illustrated in the Walter T. Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,080,417, patented May 17, 1937, but it will be recognized that other forms of shiftable tab mechanism may be employed.

The data which is to be printed from each printing device is, as aforesaid, disposed upon the operative face of the printing device D in a series of lines, and when a printing device such as that shown in Fig. 18 is employed, the type icharacters may be formed on the printing plates 5| through the use of an embossing machinesuch as that shown in the patent to Duncan No. 1,518,904, patented December 9, 1924.

The frame 50 of the printing device D is also provided with a plurality of spaced and symmetrically located openings 60A that are disposed beneath the area in which the index card 53 is mounted, and these openings 60A are utilized in the card ejecting operation as will hereinafter be described.

After the cards 6|, 62 or 63 have served their recording function, it is necessary to remove one.

or more of these cards from all ofthe printing devices that are used in the particular business system, and with respect to those printing devices that have been removed from the collection, it is desirable to also remove the index card 53, and the present card ejecting machine is utilizedv to remove one or more of these icards selectively at a rapid rate and in an eliicient manner.

The path, of movement of the printing devices the aforesaid Hueber patents is employed as al printing station. The particular arrangement of the printing device feeding path las used in the present machine is quite similar to that shown in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No.

gamers:

magazine station'. is identified as -station I- andi.

thiszm'agazine stationlI is located .along.r.anf1in. itial.- printingf'device. guideway. 1| that exten'dsi forwardl'yvfromithe magazine station .I through.- ani intermediateor idle=.station l1 and. into: ai transfer? station. IIL-T. The direction' of move.-l mentvof.' the= printing device; is changed in the` transfer.' stationII-T.` so' that.` the. printingldef vice is thenlmoved in Aan en'dwise 1 direction. along an"` intermediate printing: device' guideway 12` thatf 1in'cludes.-. successive.- stations III and. IVv ati whichsth'e printing device comesftov rest in'each` irfstance.- Itlmight be'. pointed out that sta*- tion IV is the. station. at which'. the WindowW isilocated. At'.the.left''handendI ofthe intermediateL-'guideway 12; another. transfer`v station' IV`-T. isfprovided andi-this transfer station IV-T isfflocated.along' the intersectionxofV the guidewayf 12. with'. a final printing. device guideway 1li that. extendsf. fromi theV station IV-T forwardly through a card ejecting station V` that isf located.. beneath the/ enclosure that defines the cardejectingrstationEiniFig. 1 of .thedrawings'. The final. printingidevice'f guideway. 1'3.v extendsiforwa'rdly from..the "station'e V 'to` afford a plate-drop? section.` along. which. each printingi device'fD drops. downwardly into the collecting drawer.' It?. should. bei emphasized that. the printing. devices: come to: rest for a' substantial period of time at each. ofthe aforesaid stations iexceptthe transfer 'stationiIIL-T, andf-the lapse'. of=tixrre duringV which: the.'` printing devices f areV stationary particularly. at: .stations IV andv Vi. affords; thextime necessary` for visual in-` spectionzpf the printing devices and for ejec-` tionr.. of; the-1 cards' from. suchy printing devices.. In this connection it should be notedthatthe printingfdeviceszare at'rest at stationIV during the: first'` halfiof the `machine cycle,v and are-at restiatstation' V lduring the last `half off thema-- chinefcycle;

Th'edrive means i' The'i means .for advancing thefprinting. and

control, devices:n D- along; the guideways` 1|, 12-y and: 13* are*descrihed in va.- general wayf herein after, but it'imayv be.-pointed.out thatisueh-.advancing means are quite similar to the advancing-ime'ansashowniiny the aforesaid Hueber Pat''V` ent No. 2,359,850 so that reference may be had to vsuch patent. for specific. detail off such yadvancing-means.

lSince the basic driving lmeans: employedfinthey card "ejecting. machinev 40 :correspond m'os'c respects; to. the driving. mechanism.. illustrat-A edandi describedv inv the` aforesaid HuebenPat entNo. 2,359,850; such drivng means arei il.- lustrated herein only. insofari aszsuch;.driving= meanslarefdifferent from? thee disclosure; of the` aforesaid' Hueber patent; Figs.. 2^'to 5.f`andi13,'.the machine liasamain: operating sh'aft180: carried in' supporting'fbrackh" ets Miou' a horizontal;supportingrii'arne'bar.I 82- that; is; located' adiacenti torthe rear.:` portion f. ofi thei machine frame. This-shaft100 carriesaalY Thus'. as; shown in f iii) drive:k sprocket. sa.. that is. constantly driven:-

through. suitable speed reducing. means from: a.

drive motor 84, Fig.' 2,. andzwhen anyv mechanism of the'machineiis.tobe:driven, thedrive l sprocket 83 is operatively'connected to. the'main shaft80-througha1main clutch 9| of theoncfr` revolutiontype.: Thus the sprocket 83 has a sleevexxed .thereto asdisclosed in said Hueber.

patentsso as to constitute the-driving element. of the clutch 9|, andtthe elutch19| has-adriven elm'entzQIB thatis pinnedionto the shaftz80.

'Ihefelutch .9| is ofthe onevrevolution type, and.

detailsf ofl this clutch are illustrated in the. aforesaid; Hueber" Patent No..2,359,'850.

lever-'SIS that is normally. urged toward'anref fective position, andY is arrangedto bel moved? to its.- ineffectivepositionv by` a rocking move-- ment ofa control rook shaft- 9|C, Figs. 4, 5and' 13,-.. upon which the stop lever 9|S-is; fixed.

The: printing device feeding mechanism. is ait-f ranged to be driven from the shaft 80 by: ai

clutch 92n of the general character shown in theaforesaid` Hueber patents, but the present-in.

stance this clutch 92 is constantly engaged;

Ihe driven memberof theclutch B2 is connect-A editoanv eccentric 91, and associated withV the` clutch 9-3- mounted'thereon, andthis clutch isthe'one' thatis utilized inthe aforesaid-Hueher` patentsl tov drive the platen mechanism' of thee machinethereinshown'. The clutch 93'includes. adriving member-pinnedfon the-shaft 80-and a; driven member 93B. The engagement of this clutch. is adaptedto be^eont-rolled by a stop lever 93S.- The stop lever 93SA is normally urged: to' itsineffective position,y and is adapted' to be movedto'its effectiveposition under control ofy disabling mechanism 95, Figs.. 9- to' 12, as. Will.-

be described Ihereinafter:

The printing device advancing"means As'hereinbefore pointedout, the means for advancing .the printing. and control devices along. the. guide ways..1|, 12 and 13. are driven from the-clutch. 92. whiehnis in the present.. instance constantly engaged,.and thelink 99 extends -for- Wardly andis connected toa lever arm 20 .which is'xed. on the shaft |00 soasto impart rocking' movement. tothis shaft. The arm |20 hase. link. |2|. extended.. forwardly from its-.upper end as shown in Fig. 5 ofV the.drawings, and this link is connected. to a cross-bar |22. that extends ,bctweena pair of carrier bars 13C. that are reciproeablymounted in theguideway 13 ats-describedv in. the aforesaid: Hueber. patents..

Similar reciprocable. carrier bars4 1IC are.

mounted. in. the initial guideway 1| and these carrier bars .areoperatcd by` an arm |25l fixedv on the' shaft. |00 and a link |26 that extends from the arm |25 to the carrier bars 1|C as shown in detail' in the' aforesaid Hueber patents. The'intermediate-guideway 12 is also provided with reciprocable carrier bars 12C and these carrier bars 12C arereciprocated lin timed relation to'. the carrier barsfTIC and 13C by a linkage mechanism |21: that isoperatively connected to thearmfIZS-by meansincluding a. link |28 which is-also-described in'detail in theaforesaidHueber ThisV 'A clutch 9| is adapted to be disengaged by.. a .stop

ved on the printing device frames 50.

' patents. The actuation and timing of the three sets of carrier bars is such that the carrier bars 'HC and 13C move from front to rear at the same time and in the same direction in each instance, while the carrier bars 12C move to the left while the carrier bars 1|C and 13C are moving forwardly and move in a left-hand direction as viewed in Fig. 3 when the carrier bars 1|C and 13C are moving in their rearward or retracting directions. The operation of these carrier bars is such that the printing devices come to rest at station II for substantially one-half of the machine cycle while the printing devices come to rest for but a short period at station II-T. The printing devices then move to the left along the intermediate guideway 12, coming to rest successively at stations III, IV, and IV-T, after which the printing'devices move forwardly into the ejecting station V and are then advanced forwardly and downwardly so as to deposit the same in the collecting drawer K. As the printing devices are advanced in their upwardly faclng position along said guideways, the printing devices are held down by overhanging guide or retaining strips, as shown in the aforesaid Hueber patents, and such strips in the guideway 13 are herein'identiiied as retaining or hold-down strips 13R.

The eiectz'ng mechanism y In affording the ejecting mechanism at station V. a mounting casting |50 is secured between the two side rails of the printing device guidewai7 13 as shown in Figs.,4 to 7 and this casting |50 is in effect hollow in form in that it has an upper bores |5| that correspond in location orposition with the openings 60 and 60A that are afforded in the printing device frame 50, and when a printting device D is in station V, the openings 60 and 60A are accurately located over the corresponding bores by the action of a positioning pawl 13P which engages a positioning notch 50N in the end of printing device frame in the manner described in the aforesaid Hueber patents. These openings |5| serve as guides for the upper ends of a plurality of ejecting pins |55 that are normally located with their upper ends beneath the upper surface of the walll|50U, but which are adapted to be moved upwardly in groups that correspond with the various cards that are mount- Thus, in affording means for actuating the pins |55 in such related groups, the pins are mounted on a plurality of plate assemblies that correspond generally in form with the form of the several cards that are to be ejected. Thus the pins |55 that .are located beneath and are to be effective in drawings. The aforesaid carrier plate assemblies I are all formed in the same general manner shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings in that a lower plate 26| L is provided against which the headed lower ends of the several pins bear, and a retaining plate 26|U is positioned on the top of the plate 26|L in surrounding relationship to the lower headed portions of the pins |55. Screws 265 hold the retaining plate 26|U in place on the lower plate 26|L.

The several carrier plate assemblies 253, 26|, 262 and 263 are mounted for limited vertical movement on downwardly projecting headed studs 261 that are threaded at their upper ends into the lower face of the wall |50U, and the heads 261H of these studs are located beneath the lower faces of the plate assemblies so as to limit downward movement of these plate assemblies. Springs 260 surrounding the several studs 261 act to yieldingly urge the related plate assemblies to their downward or lower positions as determined by the heads 26TH.

The several plate assemblies 253, 26|, 262 and 263 may be individually actuated in an upward direction so that any selected one of the cards may be ejected from a printing device D. To enable this to be done, a common actuator is afforded beneath the casting |50 and means are provided for rendering this common actuator effective selectively on the respective plate assemblies. In affording this actuator, a pair of spaced vertical mounting plates |51 are suspended from the rails of the guideway 13, and in a substantial downwardly spaced relationship with respect to the casting |50, a stationary base plate |58 is mounted in a horizontal position so as to extend between the two plates |51, this plate 58 being secured in position by cap screws |59. At the top of the base plate |58, a ram plate |60 is mounted for vertical movement toward and away from the base plate |58, and the ram plate |60 is actuated in such movement by operating and guiding pins |6| and |62 that extend slidably through vertical bores |63 that are formed in the base plate |58. At their upper ends, the pins 6| have reduced portions that are extended through the ram plate |60 and are riveted at their upper ends so as to be ush with the upper face of the ram plate |60. Only the rear portion of the plates |58 and |60 are located beneath the casting |50, as will be evident in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and over the forward portion of the ram plate |60, a guide plate |65 is provided. This guide plate |65 is held in position by screws |66 and it has parallel downwardly opening slots formed therein to receive and guide a plurality of khorizontal interposers 10. The screws |66 hold the block |65 in a stationary relationship on the ram plate |66, andthe interposers |10 are movable in a front to rear direction through the guide block |65 and along the top of the ram plate |60, and such movements are utilized for selectively interconnecting the ram plate |60 with the several mounting plate assemblies 253, 126|,r 262 and 263. Thus, as will be evident in Fig. 4, one interposer |16| is located substantially kmidway between the two plates |51, and this interposer |10-l, when it is moved to its most forward position, is located beneath a transmitting pin 352 that is centrally connected to the plate 262 so as to extend downwardly therefrom to substantially the level of the upper surface of the interposer |10-l. Similarly, the plate 26| has a downwardlyextending, centrally located translmitting pin 36| that is arranged to be actuated by an interposer |10-2; the plate 263 has a downlzgfemsgeve `'wardlyextendingL pin f 363 that -is adapted 'to lbe "actuated VbyIan interposer |10-3; while the plate 253 `has a pair-of downwardly projecting-transmitting pins v353 located lnear opposite ends I'thereof as shown 'in Fig. -7 of the r drawings uand Ladapted to be actuated by a pair of inter- Avposefrs v|10-L4.

Ihe-interposers |110 may bel-selectivelyeshifted between their effective and ineffective positions by means that-will behereinafter'described, and

bysuch setting'of the interposers the Vejecting 'action of the mechanism may be controlled. The

ejecting mechanism is operatedby a pair-of rock shafts -|80that extend between the'two mounting-'plates |51 as shown inFigs. 4 and5. These "rock shafts|30'areinterconnected'by lever arms that areconnected to the respective shafts |00and which are interconnected bya trans- 'mittingilinkv |82. The rear'one of the'shafts |80 Lhas 1rocking movement Aimparted `thereto 'by means including a ldownwardly'projecting'operating `arm |83 which has a linkl |84-extended rearwardly from lits lower end. This'link |84 is f connected to the lower end ofone'arm of a zbell crank |85 ythat is loosely mounted on the shaft 1|00, and the other arm of the bell crank |85 has a cam rollerl I 'xed thereon. This cam roller-I86bears'against a cam |81 that is fixed,

F4driven' member of the clutch 93'so that in each rotation of the driven member of the clutch 93,-

"cycle'ofmachine operation. This aspect of the `invention will be "discussed hereinafter.

-Theinterposers |10 are adapted to bereadily shifted between their operative and inoperative 'positions by means of a plurality of control knobs *553, 56|,f`562 and 563 that are located inthe v*'fron't panel of the machine frame as will be evident inFig. 1 of the drawings. These-control knobs have connecting links |00 extended rearwardly-therefrom and these connecting links |90 fare lpivotally connected with the upper ends'of l:af-plurality of `arms ISI, such arms 9| being fixed Arespectively on a plurality of rock shafts |92.

'Theserock shafts'are rotatablymounted in the two plates f|| and-extend ,beyond these plates |51and to the'right asshown in Fig. 4. It is at the right hands of these rock shafts as shown 'in'Fig 4 that the arms |9| Yare'rnounted- The various shafts |92 are connected to certain` ones of the interposers as will be evident in Fig; 4v of the drawings. HThus the several shafts |92 are specifically identified in Fig. 4 through .the use of suffixes that correspond with the. suffixesused in .identifying the respective .inter-v posers, and these shafts have upwardly extendingarms |95 fixed thereon, eacharm .having a laterally extending pin v|96 adjacent its upper end. As will be evidentinFig. 5 ofthe drawings each'o'f the interposers |10 has a rdownwardly extending head |'10H at its rear end and each such head |'10H has a downwardly opening slot |10S formed therein that is arranged to embrace 'thepin |195 of the related'one of the levers |95.

Thusthe interposer "|10-I is operatively 'asso- Afciated with the shaft r l92-'l thefinterposer H032 is operatively associated with theeshelft fil 9212 Vvthe interposer W10-13 is roperatively associated `with theeshaft I| 92-3; While' the interpose'rs 1PM are relatively lassociated with =the #shaft 492-14. With' the structure' that has i thusf'beenl described.

the 'groups of ejectingJ pinsmayberendered operable 'as desired, and lany f one vorl more of vthese vgroups of pins vmay -be rendered effective 'in'a y10 f simple manner.

vvThe card disposal means As fhereinbforer pointed ori-tithe lcardejecting station' Eis located: at stationW ofi the' machine,

by an upstanding hood .|05 that extends vover station `V and to the leftthereof 'for -a Vsi'ibstan- `tial distance beyond 'theleft-hand edge 'dfi-the guideway '13;A and at i its left-Lhand endedgethe go-'hood-IBS lfis"pivotallyfsupported bya hinge |96.

The disposal chute "4| vis extended lupwardlyfso vthat Eit 'registers with "anffopening 198 "thatis f formed in fthe ts'rhletop'Tl` f asfShoWn iinf-FigQ-15 4`of the drawings, andthe operationfo'f themachine issuchv that-when' a'- card A'has been-moved upwardly so` as to -be released 'fromf the retaining elements A-such las retaining lementsfil lvvr'of fthe printing device frame, the released card is blown to the left'and vdown through-the opening |90 mand downwardly through the.. disposahchute 4|.

The .air blast that is ,required lfor. ,such .disposal of .theremoved .car'ds.is affordedlby. means..lo catedalong ,the Aright-end edge ofistation ,V. and v.withinthe hood. |-9 5-as.wi1l be .evidentiniEigsll .35 to 17 of thev drawings.

V.Thus along the. right-hand 1 edge of..stat.ion LV,

a1 pair of. stationarybrackets 199. arasecu-redin `position .on the A,table top .T ,f and these r.brackets 1.9 9 `serve to.: support .the `.air distrihutionetube, or

sleeve2 00 .thatisclosed.at.,one end.within oneaof Ythe brackets .lviland` WhichlatitsA other 1 endihas an air inlet block 20| secured thereto. V.'Ihenir inlet :block has. ahose fitting 2 02. extendedthere- .from vso ...thatg-pressure-air may be supplied ..to

`thesleeve 200 .bymeansf aexibleconnecting lo tube.203.that.is. extended from apump 204. .-The

VpumpA 204 is in thepresent. instancefdrivenfbyl `.belt205 fromthevmaimmotorat butsepamte .drive means-might, .of course,.be:provided. if de- The `pressure air that .is Ithus: supplied tothe sleeve 200 is `discharged through .a lpluralityac'if L nozzle Vfittings .208 .that embrace-the sleeve 200 and which` have discharge orifices 1 209 uformed r Vtherein so fas", to communicate [with-,distributing o Iopenings f2 I0 Aformed-in Lthe :lowerffaee vof .the

---sleeve.200. .Thenttings 208;,are arranged-:to be .adjustable about*` the faxis: of i the :sleeve LUL-.and may. be .heldin adjustedmosition-byfsetmerows .f2||. ViThuslthezdischarge.openings 209 :of the 1 several nozzlettings 08 may rbc adjusted so4 as z to applye thev air-:blast :most efficientlyztozthe ,cards ,thathave been removed from theiprintingrdevices D. These removedcar'dsiare blown-'slightlympywardly and tov theileft .inFig `15 andimayzbe f guided by` an overhanging arcuate-.guide`l element 12 I2 within the I'hood TM5 Avso sas Ltoassure y'l that YV-the'cards willl move "downwardlyl intotheisposal -chutel4 I ViIrr order 'thatifthe Operetten-trulyk check on the proper operation of i' the fdisposal'imeans fwithinithehood W98, this hoodmaybe provided rwith-1a `transparent 'front'window =|08W1s -showrrin'-`ig. 1f of the drawings, and 'thiswin'dow Ais preferably located 'fjust r4forwardof-"thefdis- Normal operation and control The main drive motor is controlled by a main motor switch 2 I3 that is located in a front panel of the machine, and where the pump 204 is driven by the same motor, the closure of the switch 2 I3 serves to start the air blast means as well as the main drive shaft 80 of the machine. When the feeding of the printing devices D is to be started, this may be accomplished under control of a foot pedal 2I4 which is used for single cycle operations, or under control of a control lever 2 I5 that is located adjacent the switch 2 I3 and which is effective to maintain the clutch 9! in a continuously engaged condition. Thus the foot pedal 2 I4 has a lost-motion connection including a link 2I6 to a rearwardly projecting arm 2| 1 that is fixed on a horizontal rock shaft 2I8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 13. The rear end of the arm 2| 'I is connected by a link 2I9 to the rear end of a rearwardly projecting control lever 220 that is xed on the control shaft SIC so that when the foot pedal 2I4 is depressed, the control shaft 9I C is rocked so as to shift the stop lever SIS to its ineffective position. The reciprocable control member 2 I5 has a cam 2I5C which acts on a roller on one arm of a bell crank 2'2I so as to rock this bell crank when the plunger 2 I5 is Withdrawn. A link 22 IA connects the other arm of the bell crank 22| to a second bell crank 222. The other arm of the bell crank 222 has a vertical link 222A extended down to the rear end of an arm 223 that is loose on the shaft 2I8. An ear 223E on the arm 223 overlies an arm 224 fixed on the shaft. Thus, when the control member 2 I5 is withdrawn, the stop lever 9 IS will be held in its ineffective position and the machine will operate continuously to feed printing devices D from the magazine M and into the card ejecting station E where one or more cards will be ejected in accordance with the setting of the several control knobs.

The manually controlled disabling means 95 As hereinbefore pointed out, it is desirable in some instances to prevent the ejection of cards from certain of the printing devices, and by visual inspection of the successive printing devices as they appear beneath the Window W, the operator may determine when the card ejecting means is to be suppressed. Upon making such determination, the operation actuates a normally open toggle switch 225 that is located on a front panel of the machine adjacent to the switch 2I3, and operation of the switch 225- renders automatic means effective to disengage the clutch 93 in that cycle of operation when the particular printing device is located at 'the air ejecting station E. In accomplishing this, storage means are rendered effective under control of the switch 225, and such storage means are in the present instance afforded by utilizing a portion of the selector and storage means that are disclosed in detail in the aforesaid Heuber Patent No. 2,359,851.

Thus as disclosed in the aforesaid Hueber patent, the rearwardly projecting end of the stop lever 93S has a downwardly extending link 226 secured thereto and this link is connected to the forwardly projecting end of an arm 221 that is fixed on a control rock shaft 228. This control rock shaft 228 extends to the right along a rear portion of the machine and is supported in downward extensions of the brackets 8f, and'at its right-hand end, the shaft 228 has a downwardly and forwardly projecting arm 228A whereby the shaft 228 may be rocked in a clockwise direction whenr the clutch 93 is to be disengaged. Such clockwise rocking movement of the shaft 228 is effective to shift the stop lever 93S to its effective position. The control of the rock shaft 228 is effected by means including a storage drum 230 that has a plurality of longitudinally settable plungers 23IJP mounted thereon at circumferentially spaced points so as to be parallel to the rotative axis that is afforded by a. shaft 230s upon which the drum 230 is fixed. This drum is in its major respects like the drum shown in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, and reference may be had to such patent for a detailed disclosure 0f the construction and operation of the drum. It may be pointed out, however, that this drum 230 is actuated in a step-bystep manner in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9 and such actuation or indexing takes place in the first half of each machine cycle. The plungers 230P are utilized, when these plungers are in what may be termed their set positions, to impart the control rocking movement to the shaft 228, and for this purpose a rocker 232 is mounted above the drum 230 on a rocking axis 232R. The upper end of the rocker 232 is connected by a link 233 to the arm 228A and a spring 232s actuating on the rocker 232 serves to urge the rocker 232 in a clockwise direction so as to tend normally to hold the stop lever 93S in its ineffective position. The rocker 232 has a rearwardly projecting arm 232A formed thereon and extending rearwardly to such a position that a plunger 2301? that has been moved to its set position will engage the arm 230A when this plunger comes to rest just to the right of the vertical plane that passes through the axis of the drum. When this takes place the control shaft 228 will be rocked so as to shift the stop lever 93S to its effective position.

The drum 230 is operated in each cycle of the machine by means including an operating pawl 234 that is pivoted on the arm |25 and which extends downwardly and forwardly so that an operating pin 2341 at the end of the pawl 234 may engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 235 that is fixed on the shaft 230s. Thus when the rock shaft IUD rocks in a counterclockwise direction in the first half of each machine cycle, the pawl .234 will be effective to advance the drum 230, and it might be pointed out that after a set plunger 23IlP has accomplished its function, it is automatically returned to a restored position by cam means of the character shown in the aforesaid Hueber patents.

The plungers 230P may be set when such plungers are in the position identified as position IV 1n Fig. 9 of the drawings and this setting is accomplished by means including a solenoid 236. The solenoid 236 has the armature thereof connected to the horizontal arm of a bell crank 231 the vertical arm of which has a laterally project: ing pin 23`IP secured thereto. This pin 23`IP being extended into a groove 238 formed in an axially shiftable mounted sleeve 239. The sleeve 239 1s mounted on a pin 239P and it has a relatively large flange 239F thereon. This flange is arranged to extend to a point opposite one end of a shiftable pin 243 which is mounted in a guide bearing 24I and which is normally urged in a retracting direction by a surrounding spring 242. When the solenoid 236 is energized, the sleeve 239 is shifted in an endwise direction so as to impart corresponding shifting movement to the plunger 230P, and this plunger 230P is aligned l 5 with position IV oi the drum. Thus the aligned plunger 2391D that is in position IV will be actuated in an endwise direction to its set position;

The arrangement is such that solenoid 236 mai7 be energized only when the drum 230 is in its rest position, and for this purpose a control disk 243 is fixed on the shaft 2305. This control disk 243 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced ren cesses 243B. therein, and a cam follower' 243C is arranged to enter one of these recesses 243whenever the drum 230 is in a rest position. The iollower 243C is arranged to control a switch 244 so as to open the switch 2Mv during the period when the drum 23D is being moved bteween its rest positions. The switch 244 is in series with the manual control switch 225 from one line wire L-I to one terminal of the solenoid 235, while the line wire L2 is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid 236. With the arrangement thus afforded, it will be clear that the switch 244 will be closed during the last half of the machine cycle in which a particular printing device I) is moved into the visual inspection station IV, and at this time the operator may close the switch 225 so as to cause the storage pin 23913 that is in station IV, Fig. 9, to be actuated. Thus in the next machine cycle when the particular printing device is moved into station IV-T, the set plunger 230P will move into the next station on the drum 230, and in so doing, such set plunger 230P will rock the rocker 232 and thus cause the stop lever 93S to be moved to its effective position. This will result in the clutch 93 being disengaged at the end of this particular machine cycle. Hence, when the next machine cycle is initiated, the clutch S3 will remain inactive or disengaged, and the particular printing device which in this machine cycle will be moved into the ejecting station, will not be subjected to a card ejecting operation. During such cycle, however, the drum 230 will be moved an additional step, and unless another set plunger 23013 is encountered in the succeeding position on the drum, the stop lever 93S will be returned to its ineiective position so that normal card ejecting operations will be resumed.

Conclusion devices to be removed in a simple and expeditious manner, and it will also be apparent that the card removing operation is performed mechanically by means that may be set so as to remove any selected card from such a printing and control device.

It will also be evident that the present card removing machine is of such a character that the card removing operations may be readily and easily suppressed, and that this may be accomplished by an operator who visually inspects the printing and control devices as they lare being passed through the machine.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality or cards held in place by retaining means in different card-mounting positions thereon, are

adapted to be passed one by one, a. supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine and into said ejecting station, and means at said ejecting station operable selectively to eject a card from any one or more of said card mounting positions of a printing and control device while such printing and control device is at rest at such ejecting station.

2. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality of cards held in place by retaining means in different card-mounting positions thereon, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and. control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine and into said ejecting station, a plurality of card eiecting units allocated to the respective card-mounting positions and mounted at said card ejecting station for independent card-ejecting movement, a common actuator for said units, and control means for selectively rendering said common actuator effective to actuate one or more of said card ejecting units.

3. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality of cards held in place in different cardmounting positions thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting static-n at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine and into said ejecting station, a plurality of card ejecting units allocated to the respective card-mounting positions and mounted at said card ejecting station for independent card-ejecting movement, and means for selectively actuating one or more of said card ejecting units.

4. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality of cards held in place in different cardinounting positions thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means dening an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a stepby-step manner from said magazine into said ejecting station, a plurality of card ejecting units allocated to the respective card-mounting positions and mounted at said card ejecting station for independent card-ejecting movement, means for selectively actuating one or more of said card ejecting units, and card disposal means operable to remove the ejected cards from said ejecting station.

5. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality of cards heid in place in different cardmounting positions thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may he introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and ina step-by-'step manner from said magazine and into said ejecting station, a plurality of card ejecting units allocated to the respective card-mounting positions and mounted at said card ejecting station for independent card-ejecting movement, a common actuator for said units, control means for selectively rendering said common actuator effective to actuate one or more of said card ejecting units, and manually settable means for disabling said common actuator in a predetermined cycle of machine operation.

6. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a plurality of cards held in place in different cardmounting positions thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, va supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such -printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine and into said ejecting station, a plurality of carrier plates allocated to the respective card-mounting areas and mounted for limited up and down movement at said ejecting station, a plurality of card engaging pins carried by each plate for engaging and ejecting a card when the related plate is moved upwardly, a common actuator means including a ram plate and a one-revolution clutch for moving said ram plate up and down in each cycle of machine operation, interposers selectively settable to render said ram plate effective on said plates, and settable means including a storage means for causing disengagement of said clutch in a predetermined cycle of machine operation.

7. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a card held in place in a card-mounting position thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine along a predetermined path and through a succession of intermediate stations and into said ejecting station, means dening a visual inspection window at one of said intermediate stations, a card ejecting unit mounted at said card ejecting station for card-ejecting movement, an actuator for said unit, and control means for disabling said actuator settable when a particular printing device is moved into position under said visual inspection window and operable to disable said actuator in the cycle in which such particular printing device is located at said ejecting station.

8. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a card held in place by retaining means in a cardmounting position thereon, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine along a predetermined path and through a succession of intermediate stations including a visual inspection station and into said ej ecting station, a card ejecting unit mounted at said card ejecting station for card-ejecting movement, operation means for said unit, and control means for disabling said operation means Settable when a particular printing device is moved into said visual inspection station and operable to disable said actuating means in the cycle in which such particular printing device is located at said ejecting station.

9. In a card ejecting machine through which printing'and control devices, each bearing a card held in place, in a card-mounting position thereon by retaining means, are adapted to 'be passed i one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means dening an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine along a predetermined path and through a succession of intermediate stations and into said ejecting station, means defining a visual inspection window at one of said intermediate stations, a card ejecting unit mounted at said card ejecting station for card-ejecting movement, an actuator for said unit, and means for disabling said actuator including a storage means settable when a particular printing device is moved into position under said visual inspection window and a one-revolution clutch disengaged by said storage means to disable said actuator in the cycle in which such particular printing device is located at said ejecting station.

10. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices, each bearing a card held in place in a card-mounting position thereon by retaining means, are adapted to be passed one by one, a supply magazine into which printing and control devices may be introduced, means dening an ejecting station at which such devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-by-step manner from said magazine along a predetermined path and through a succession of intermediate stations including a visual inspection station and into said ejecting station, a card ejecting unit mounted at said card ejecting station for card-ejecting movement, a disposal passage at one side of said card ejecting station, air blast means at the opposite side of said ejecting station for blowing ejected cards out of said station and into said disposal passage, operating means for said unit, and means for disabling said operating means settable when a particular printing device is moved into said visual inspection station and operable to disable said operating means in the cycle in which such particular printing device is located at said ejecting station.

11. In a card ejecting machine through which printing and control devices each comprising a frame bearing a card held in position on said frame by retaining means of a iixed character overlying edge portions of such card and in which the frame has at least two openings through said frame beneath the card at spaced points, a supply magazine into which such printing and control devices may be introduced, means defining an ejecting station at which said devices may be positioned, means for advancing such printing and control devices one by one and in a step-bystep manner from said magazine into said ej ecting station, a plurality of ejecting pins disposed at said ejecting station in positions disposed to register with the respective openings in the frame of such a printing and control device located at said ejecting station, means operable to impart upward ejecting movements to said pins in unison so that such pins move through said openings in the frame of such printing and control device and eject the card from said retaining means, means WALTER T. GOLLXVITZ'ER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Demming Oct. 11, 19

Number 20 Name Date Broadmeyer Nov. 19, 1929 Lafferty Feb. 25, 1930 McCain Jan. 3, 1933 Hult Feb. 14, 1933 Matthews Nov. 11, 194.1. Leuhrs Oct. 26, 1943 Hueber Oct. 10, 1944 Boyle Feb. 7, 1950 

